Agatha Mary Anges Tiegel (Hanson) [1873-1959] Trailblazer, Educator and Writer/Poet Quote: Civilization is too far advanced not to acknowledge the justice of woman's cause. She herself is too strongly impelled by a noble hunger for something better than she has known, too highly inspired by the vista of the glorious future, not to rise with determination and might and move on till all barriers crumble and fall. (1893, from The Intellect of Woman) [picture at left from Gallaher(1898) picture at right from The Silent Worker (1911)]. Born: September 14 th 1873 Pittsburgh, PA Died: October 17 th, 1959 Portland,OR (76 years old) Buried in Evergreen Washell Memorial Park (Seattle, Wa) A Family of origin Hearing parents: Berthold and Agatha (Broadbeck) Tiegel. Father was a tailor from Prussia (Germany), mother from Ohio or Pennyslvania (Swiss background). Schooling: Attended St. Mary s Academy (Catholic school) Attended Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (2 years) Gallaudet University class of 1893: Valedictorian, First Woman to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree
Professional Experiences: Teacher at the Minnesota School for the Deaf (1893-1900) Wrote poetry and articles for a number of Deaf publications Edited Seattle Observer Personal information: Married Deaf architect/nad President/minister Olof Hanson in 1900 Three Hearing daughters Contributions/Honors/Relationship to Deaf Community: First Woman to graduate from the National Deaf Mute College (later Gallaudet University) with a Bachelor s of Art degree, Valedictorian of the class of 1893 Vice President of her class (1893) One of the founders and first President of the OWLS (Deaf Women s sorority later Phi Kappa Zeta) Associate Editor of the first Buff and Blue (Gallaudet University Student Newspaper) Created a number of poems honoring Deaf individuals Recognized signer of hymns and songs: Signed Star Spangled Banner/America at NAD Convention (Colorado) Appointed to a number of NAD national committees (e.g. Executive Committee 1896) Secretary of the Minnesota Association of the Deaf Held a number of offices in the Puget Sound Association of the Deaf (Washington) Correspondent for Alumni Staff of The Buff and Blue Hanson Plaza at Gallaudet University is named in her honor Agatha T. Hanson Award annually recognizes an exceptional Gallaudet Senior Woman 2014: As part of Gallaudet University s 150 year anniversary, Agatha Tiegel Hanson has been named one of fifteen extraordinary Gallaudet alumni who were visionary leaders. 2014: Agatha Tiegel Hanson is honored as one of the Women of Character Courage & Commitment as part of the National Women s History Project. List of original documents/links: Tiegel, Agatha (1893). The Intellect of Woman. Delivered at Presentation Day Exercises April 26, 1893, National Deaf Mute College. Agatha Tiegel Hanson Papers. Gallaudet University Archives, Washington, DC. Hanson, Agatha Tiegel. (1900). Some Deaf Teachers of the Deaf: John Burton Hotchkiss. Silent Worker, 12 (6), 81. Hanson, Agatha Tiegel. (19??). Overflow Verses. Agatha Tiegel Hanson Papers. Gallaudet University Archives, Washington, DC. Hanson, Agatha Tiegel. (1910). To George William Veditz (poem). Silent Worker 22,
4), 73. Hanson, Agatha Tiegel. (1944). An Editorial Comment. North Dakota Banner. 54 (3), 1. Hanson, Agatha Tiegel. (1944). My Creed (poem). The North Dakota Banner. 54 (3), 2-3. Hanson, Agatha Tiegel. (1944). Reminiscences. The North Dakota Banner. 54 (3), 2-3. FILM: Reminiscences of Mrs. Agatha T. Hanson (see Gallaudet video library (http://videocatalog.gallaudet.edu/?video=1971) References/Articles about Agatha Tiegel (Hanson): Barrett, Augusta K. (1911). Our Prominent Deaf Women: Mrs. Agatha Tiegel Hanson. Silent Worker, 23 (9), 163-4. Gallaher, James, E. (1898). Representative Deaf Persons of the United States. Chicago: James E Gallaher Publisher. Holcomb, Marjoriebell S. and Wood, Sharon K. (1989). Deaf Women: A Parade Through the Decades. San Diego, CA: DawnSign Press. Jankowsi, Katherine A. (2001). Til All Barriers Crumble and Fall: Agatha Tiegel s Presentation Day Speech in April 1893. In L. Bragg (ed.) Deaf World: A Historical Reader and Primary Sourcebook (pp. 284-295). New York: New York University Press. Jones, Nancy C. (1983). Don t Take Any Aprons to College: A Study of the Beginning of Co- Education at Gallaudet College. Master s Thesis. University of Maryland. Parker, Lindsay M. (2008) The Women of Kendall Green: Coeducation at Gallaudet 1860-1910. In. B.H. Greenwald and J. V. Van Cleve (Eds.) A Fair Chance in the Race of Life. (pp. 85-112). Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press. Who s Who in the Deaf World: Agatha Tiegel Hanson. (1923) Silent Worker 35, (4), 16. 1880 Census Ancestry Search Other Documents/Information/Pictures(s): - from Gallaher (1898) At the age of nine she was sent with her next youngest sister to St. Mary s Academy, a private Catholic school in Pittsburgh under the control of the Sisters of Mercy. For several weeks her instruction consisted in gazing at the four walls of the school- room and amusing herself in various ways. Finally her case
attracted the attention of the mother superior, who interested herself in her and personally undertook her instruction. From Barrett (1911) Gifted with a fund of sound sense, a free command of language, both English and sign, and a pleasant personality, Mrs. Hanson is easily a leader in the deaf social circles of Seattle. From (1937) Buff and Blue: I was a very young girl at the time, and I resented that there might be any question of the right, the God given right, of my sisters and myself to take our places in the sun. From an article by Agatha in The National Exponent, March 28, 1895, an appropriate of $30,000 has been granted by Congress, and that at least part of it would be used in providing more commodious quarters for the young women, who are present uncomfortably crowded in the Kendall School building, makes it evident that the feminine portion of the student body is here to stay. " [Above: Tiegel s degree from the National Deaf Mute College (later Gallaudet University) from http://www.gallaudet.edu/150/gallery_of_diplomas/cleveland.html
[From Gallaudet University website] [Above: Agatha Tiegel and Her Senior Class at Gallaudet. Photo from: Holcomb and Wood (1989)]
[Above: Agatha Tiegel Hanson and daughters from Silent Worker (Vol. 23, no. 9, pg. 3)].
[Above: Agatha Tiegel Hanson and family from Gallaudet Museum - http://www.gallaudet.edu/museum/olof_hanson_exhibit/olof_hanson_virtual_exhibit.html )] [Above: Agatha Tiegel Hanson on her front porch from Silent Worker (1912)].
[Above: Agatha Tiegel Hanson s grave from findagrave.com]